Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

Whilst this is Labor's day to farewell a longstanding, loyal, capable and faithful member of the labour movement, I rise on behalf of the coalition government to offer our very best wishes to Senator Kate Lundy. Senator Lundy is leaving us to begin a new career, which is increasingly common in politics—people spending a period of time in the parliament and then going on to new opportunities. Most people now in jobs will have, at least, three substantial careers in their working life. Albeit sometimes the need for a new career is foisted on us by either our electors or our party, Senator Lundy has the dignity of going at a time of her choosing. I wish that were the case for all of us, that we would be as fortunate.

Senator Lundy came to the Senate, if I might say, relatively youthful but already with a career on Canberra's building sites behind her. We wish her well in her new career.

I am aware that Senator Lundy has had a long interest in sport, and she spoke of that in her excellent coverage of her 20-year career that we have just had the privilege of listening to. She was, of course, a very enthusiastic federal Minister for Sport I am also aware that she was a keen rower, and indeed she was patron of the Canberra Rowing Club. Some would say that rowing is the most appropriate sport for us politicians, because we look one way whilst we are going the other way.

In terms of information technology, Senator Lundy has held portfolios of IT in both shadow ministries and in government. She has always had a very keen interest in IT and you will know, Mr President, that she served for many years as a very effective member of the Presiding Officers Information Technology Advisory Group, agitating in a completely bipartisan away, so that we could serve our electors better, to improve the technology available to senators and members in this place and when we are travelling, and in particular she forcefully argued for improvements in the compatibility of IT in Parliament House and our electorate offices. All of us are in your debt for that advocacy.

On a policy front and personally, can I say to Senator Lundy that I have appreciated her bipartisan approach to the Mr Fluffy asbestos issue in the ACT. It has been an understandably very sensitive issue, affecting people and their homes, and I did appreciate the engagement I had with you, your colleague Senator Seselja and of course the former Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, who will soon be taking her place here with us in the Senate. The coalition wishes Senator Lundy and her family all the best for the next phase in her life. Senator Lundy should leave this place knowing she earned the respect and affection of her opposite numbers in the Senate. We wish you success for the future.